Sheffield Wednesday: Owls on the Hunt for scalps

Dom Howson

Loan defender Jack Hunt is calling on the Owls to start taking the scalps of promotion rivals ahead of today’s meeting with Birmingham City.

Carlos Carvalhal’s side, sitting seventh in the table, one point shy of the Championship play-off zone, have yet to beat a team inside the top nine this campaign.

Hunt is acutely aware Wednesday must rectify that record if they are gategrash the top-six.

“It would be nice to take points off teams around us and that all starts with Birmingham and after we’ve played that, we will look at Middlesbrough,” he told The Star. “I don’t know what the chairman is planning for January, but if he can bring a couple in to help us, then brilliant and we will look to kick on. If we get in the top six, it’s about kicking on and not dipping out there.

“I wouldn’t really say we have achieved anything yet as we are in a position that everyone seems quite happy with and we are within touching distance of the play-offs.

“We will see come the end of the season where we are and if we have achieved or under-achieved.”

The 25-year-old is refusing to underestimate the threat Birmingham will pose this afternoon. The Blues are strong on their travels, recording five wins away from St Andrew’s and tasting just two losses.

“They are achieving good things this season and have been up there for some time,” said Hunt. “But playing anyone at Hillsborough, where we have had quite a good record this season, we feel we can take on anyone.

“It is a real family time and we can enjoy our Christmas after the Wolves result and manner of the game. To bring all the families together on Boxing Day, hopefully we can send them home with a smile on their face with three points and hopefully us being in the play-offs for the Middlesbrough game.”